Lambert released his debut album, 'For Your Entertainment', in November 2009, via RCA Records/19 Recordings. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 in December 2009, selling 198,000 copies in the United States in the first week. To date, he is the first American Idol contestant to headline a world-wide tour in support of a debut album. As of January 2011, For Your Entertainment had sold more than 1.2 million copies worldwide. In 2010, Lambert was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Whataya Want from Me". His single "If I Had You", also from that album, has additionally received major critical and commercial acclaim,
Emboldened by his passionate fan-base, Lambert released his second studio album, 'Trespassing', in the U.S. on May 15th, 2012. Lambert served as an executive producer on the album, which the Better Than I Know Myself Songfacts reports him saying that it takes his fans on "an exciting journey through the past two years" of his life. The American Idol runner-up added, "It's been a transformative period and I really wanted to make music from what I've experienced. All these songs honestly explore the ups and downs of my reality."
In terms of his vocal talents, Adam Lambert has been compared to past glam rock and hard rock legends such as Queen's Freddie Mercury, Sweet's Brian Connolly, and The Who's Roger Daltrey. British rocker Brian May has had this to say about Adam’s voice: "I’m not easily moved to jelly by male vocalists... but Adam’s voice reaches out with sensitivity, depth, maturity, and awesome range and power which will make jaws drop all around the world... no doubt about it. The world of Rock has a bright new star."
Website: http://www.adamofficial.com/us/home
Mad World
Adam Lambert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Worn out spaces, worn out places
Bright and early for the daily races
Goin' nowhere, goin' nowhere
And their tears are fillin' up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow
And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dyin' are the best I ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles it's a very, very
Mad world, mad world
Children waitin' for the day they feel good
Happy birthday, happy birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher, tell me what's my lesson?
Look right through me, look right through me
And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dyin' are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles it's a very, very
Mad world, mad world
Mad world, mad world
The lyrics of Adam Lambert's Mad World depict a gloomy and hopeless atmosphere in which people are just living their everyday lives, racing towards a goal they do not even know. The lines "All around me are familiar faces, Worn out spaces, worn out places" suggest that the people are going through the daily grind, experiencing monotony and exhaustion. The phrase "their tears are fillin' up their glasses, no expression" portrays the apathy and despair that are pervasive in their lives. The singer of the song "finds it kind of funny, kind of sad" that his dreams of dying are the best he ever had, as he longs for escape from the misery and futility of the world around him. The phrase "mad world" is repeated frequently throughout the song, emphasizing the chaotic nature of the world the singer is trying to navigate.
The sense of alienation and lack of connection is evident in the second verse, where the singer talks of feeling nervous and unknown in school. The line "no one knew me, no one knew me" shows the feeling of not belonging, leading to the question "Hello teacher, tell me what's my lesson? Look right through me, look right through me." The song finishes off with the repeated phrase of "mad world" conveying a sense of hopelessness and despair that pervades the atmosphere of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
All around me are familiar faces
I see a lot of the same people every day.
Worn out spaces, worn out places
The environments I'm in are dull and uninspiring.
Bright and early for the daily races
I wake up early every day to do the same things over and over again.
Goin' nowhere, goin' nowhere
Despite my efforts to succeed, I feel like I'm not making any progress.
And their tears are fillin' up their glasses
People are drinking to cope with their problems and sadness.
No expression, no expression
People are emotionless and numb to their surroundings.
Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow
I want to forget my problems and escape my reality.
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
I don't see a future for myself.
And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
I have mixed emotions about the situation.
The dreams in which I'm dyin' are the best I ever had
My dreams of escaping my problems are more enjoyable than my reality.
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
It's difficult for me to express my feelings and accept the situation.
When people run in circles it's a very, very mad world, mad world
People are stuck in a cycle of monotony and it's making them crazy.
Children waitin' for the day they feel good
Kids are hoping for a better future when they will feel happy.
Happy birthday, happy birthday
Birthdays are supposed to be happy occasions, but they may not be for everyone.
Made to feel the way that every child should
Children should feel happy and loved, but not all of them do.
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Children are expected to sit still and follow the rules, without expressing their feelings or thoughts.
Went to school and I was very nervous
Starting school can be a scary experience.
No one knew me, no one knew me
I felt isolated and alone at school.
Hello teacher, tell me what's my lesson?
I'm asking my teacher for guidance and direction.
Look right through me, look right through me
My teacher doesn't acknowledge my individual needs or personality.
Mad world, mad world
The world is crazy and chaotic.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Roland Orzabal
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Empressoftheflames
Adam was just so different from everyone else on Idol that season. His song choices and style were just on another level. This man was born to be a star!
@julicooke4266
That was the problem. No one knew how to take Adam and what BOX to put him in because there is NO BOX.
@luxurylass
NATURAL BORN STAR-- EVEN MY MOM HAD THE HOTS FOR HIM AND SHE WAS 84 AT THE TIME--LOL
@barbarajohnson-mccord5984
Empressoftheflames I agree hole heartedly
@DernLud
Empressoftheflames yes!! Adam is phenomenal!!
@JackIsNotInTheBox
HE STILL LOST THO
@kevinnegoro1118
He may not have won the battle but he definitely won the war. What a legend.
@ggisheretostay5678
YEP---BEST THING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO HIM ...
@connor5837
Looking back on seeing this when I was a kid, I think this performance changed me. Incredible song.
And true.
@tinaliston
I love this comment